A Wizard of Earthsea

A Wizard of Earthsea focuses on the trials and challenges of a youthful wizard on his way to realizing his true identity and power rather than recounting the tale of an already-established hero. What is the impact of this choice of story framing on the themes, message, and legacy of the novel within the fantasy genre? Consider the following as you develop your ideas:

• What has Ged learned from his travels? What has he learned from his mistakes?
• What lessons arise from a story about an unknown and untested hero that may be absent from stories of an established hero?
• Based on Ged’s trials and internal and external conflicts, what does Le Guin suggest are the true hallmarks of power?
• How is Ged shaped by travel? What does he learn in his vast explorations of the archipelago and beyond, and how does this contribute to his character growth?
• What is it that finally allows Ged to come into his own power and identity? What lessons, hope, or promises does his tale offer the reader?
• What makes this story different from other iterations of the monomyth? What legacy does this story leave for others writing in the genre to borrow and consider?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to provide students with written copies of the questions for note taking or reference during discussion. Allowing students to preview the questions a day in advance may help them prepare in-depth answers with textual references.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle with analysis or in-depth discussion, consider assigning specific questions to different groups or allowing students to work in pairs; this could make the task more manageable and might prevent students from feeling overwhelmed.